07/14/2021 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning&Zoning Board June 9,2021 Page 7 Ms. Kendra Lindahl, Landform,presented a summary of Zoning Ordinance changes to the General Provisions section needed to comply with State Law, eliminate inconsistencies in the document,better reflect City goals and make the ordinance easier to read and understand. This is an initial draft of key concepts. The Planning &Zoning Board should review the draft changes recommended by staff and provide direction on any other desired changes. The direction will be incorporated into the full draft that will be presented later this year. Board Comments Chair Tralle asked if the wind and solar energy sections could be combined. Ms. Lindahl said City likes the idea of an alternate energy zoning section with subsections for solar and wind if the board agrees. Currently the City has been allowing solar projects. Mr. Laden asks how solar and wind could be combined in the zones. He feels solar can go just about anywhere but wind needs to have more restrictive requirements. Ms. Lindahl agrees with Mr. Laden and clarifies wind and solar would be under the same section, subsections would clarify the differences with both. Chair Tralle comments on solar gardens taking land out of taxable property and asks if the same would be true of wind. V Ms. Lindahl clarifies that this does not refer to a wind farm but rather refers to a wind accessory to a structure. A single facility not exceeding 5,000 kilowatts. Staff is referring to a home or business. r. Root asks what the current standard zoning on solar power arrays are. Ms. Lindahl said that if asked to prepare a solar ordinance for review there are three different solar patterns that would be considered which are building integrated, building mounted, and ground mounted solar arrays. A review would also consider more technical aspects such as reflection proof covers and the panels ability to move. Mr. Root points out that a 5-megawatt wind structure would need a mounting pole of 120ft high and would have a blade diameter of 140ft. Because of this he would like any wind ordinance proposal to have differing standards for different zones. He would also like any zoning proposal to anticipate common issues with wind power such as shadow flickering and noise. Ms. Lindahl stated that they did draft a free standing WECS which cannot exceed 50 ft in height as measured from the grade at the base of the tower to the highest possible extension of the blades. She commented that setbacks were also addressed by saying the tower must be able to fall over and not hit the lot line. DRAFT MINUTES